Education News from around the region

BLUE EYE SCHOOLS

Blue Eye welcomes educators for 2026-27 school year (BY JOELENE POWELL)

A new school year brings new faces, new roles and one Bulldog back home to Blue Eye Schools.

As the 2026-27 school year begins, the Blue Eye R-V School District is welcoming educators across the district, from preschool through high school.

Superintendent Kelli Alumbaugh said the district is excited about what the new educators will bring to Blue Eye students.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new teachers to Blue Eye Schools,” Alumbaugh said. “They bring fresh ideas, new energy and a passion for making a difference in the lives of our students. We are excited to have them join our Bulldog family and look forward to the positive impact they will make in our schools and community.”

The district welcomed several new educators and staff members, along with those stepping into new roles, for the 2026-27 school year.

Michel Pinkley, of Blue Eye, is stepping into a new role as a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher after previously serving as a paraprofessional at Blue Eye.

Farrah Page, of Nixa, will teach junior kindergarten. Page holds a master’s degree in reading from Northwest Missouri State University.

Kenzie Furr, whose hometowns are listed in Oklahoma and as Lampe, will teach fourth grade. Furr is a graduate of Missouri State University.

Ashley Mozely, of Mansfield, will serve as the PK-8 librarian. Mozely holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Drury University.

Elizabeth Kingsley, of Walker, will serve as a PK-8 special education teacher.

Abigail Gilmartin, of Fair Grove, will teach 3-year-old preschool. Gilmartin is a graduate of College of the Ozarks.

Jocelyn Tebbetts, of Greenbrier, Arkansas, will teach high school English. Tebbetts attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Missouri State University.

Daize Riggs, of Harrison, Arkansas, will serve as a family and consumer sciences teacher. Riggs is a graduate of Missouri State University.

Isaiah Mitchell, of Blue Eye, will teach high school social studies. A Blue Eye alumnus, Mitchell attended Blue Eye from pre-K through 12th grade and later attended College of the Ozarks.

Mitchell said he is looking forward to returning to the school and community that helped shape him.

“I am most excited to be back in the school that poured so much into me, and to be able to give back to the community that raised me!” Mitchell said.

With classrooms opening this week for the 2026-27 school year, Blue Eye’s newest educators and those stepping into new roles are ready to welcome students back to the classroom.

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BRANSON SCHOOLS

Branson Band Boosters raise more than $2,300 at Wild Blue Car Wash community fundraiser (SUBMITTED)

The Branson Band Boosters raised $2,368 during a charity wash fundraiser held August 15 at Wild Blue Car Wash, 1305 State Hwy 248 in Branson. Throughout the fundraiser, community members stopped by the car wash to support the Branson Band Boosters. 

The event brought together Wild Blue Car Wash, Branson Band Boosters, students, staff and members of the Branson community in support of Branson Bands. 

Candra Kleypas, Branson Band Booster President, praised Wild Blue Car Wash for its support and the response from the community. 

“Our students and staff were blown away by their support and how the community showed up to support the Bears pride of Branson Bands,” Kleypas said. “We look forward to our next fundraiser event with them!” 

The fundraiser is part of Wild Blue Car Wash’s continued effort to support local schools, teams and community organizations through events that give residents an easy way to support local causes. Wild Blue Car Wash is located at 1305 State Hwy 248 in Branson, Missouri. For more information, visit WildBlueCarWash.com. 

BHS ag teacher named semifinalist for Missouri 2027 Teacher of the Year (SUBMITTED)

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced the 16 Missouri Regional Teachers of the Year who have been selected as semifinalists for the Missouri 2027 Teacher of the Year award. 

Nicole Crocker, agricultural education teacher at Branson High School, has been named one of the semifinalists. Crocker has been with the Branson School District since 2014. DESE will announce the 2027 finalists at the end of August.

Pirates to fight border battle this Friday (BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer)

The third annual Pella Windows Border Battle is set for Friday night.

The annual football game between the Branson Pirates and the Harrison Goblins is one of the area’s most anticipated games.

This week’s game marks the third border battle that has been fought. The first border battle in 2024 marked the first time that Harrison and Branson had met in varsity football play in 40 years.

In 2024, the Branson Pirates took home the trophy, defeating Harrison 23-7.  The following year, the Harrison Goblins, on their home turf, bested the Pirates with a score of 34 to 27.

Friday, the Pirates will fight to reclaim the border battle trophy. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, August 28, at Pirate Stadium, 935 Buchanan Road in Branson. It is the Pirates’ first game of the season.

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REEDS SPRING SCHOOLS

Grant helps Reeds Spring High School greenhouse program grow (BY JOELENE POWELL, Staff Writer)

As a new school year begins, one Reeds Spring High School program is growing opportunities both inside and outside the greenhouse.

RSHS paraprofessional Crystal Seiler received a $500 grant from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association Foundation to expand the special education department’s greenhouse program.

Seiler plans to use the grant to purchase soil, fertilizer, tools, canning supplies and kitchen items that will allow students to grow and preserve crops while gaining real-world employment skills.

The Missouri Retired Teachers Association Foundation supports Missouri classroom teachers and school support staff through its grant program. In 2026, the foundation is awarding 84 grants to classroom teachers and 14 to support staff statewide. According to the district, Seiler’s grant was the only one awarded to a paraprofessional in MRTA Region 10.

For Seiler, putting students in charge of the program is an important part of the learning experience.

“This is a student-led enterprise,” Seiler said. “Our students make all the decisions. I was very excited to receive the grant!”

Wolves ready to kick off new football season (BY JOELENE POWELL, Staff Writer)

The Reeds Spring Wolves are ready to turn the page and kick off a new season under the Friday night lights.

Reeds Spring High School will open its 2026 football season Friday, Aug. 28, on the road against Springfield Parkview.

Head Coach Travis Cagle said the Wolves put in the work throughout the summer and have carried that momentum into August.

“We are extremely excited for this season to get started,” Cagle said. “The athletes had a great summer of preparation, and it has carried through the first couple of weeks of August.”

Although Reeds Spring remains young at several positions, many of those players gained experience on Friday nights last season. Cagle said the team enters the year determined to continue improving.

“They are hungry to right the ship, believe in themselves and each other, and continue to elevate their game by doing the little things right,” Cagle said. “We are still young at a lot of positions, but last year gave them Friday night experience to meet this season’s standards.”

Before opening the regular season, Reeds Spring took part in a preseason jamboree Friday, Aug. 21, at Rogersville, giving the Wolves an opportunity to compete against outside opponents.

After opening at Parkview, Reeds Spring will return home Friday, Sept. 4, to face Marshfield. The Wolves’ regular-season schedule also includes Springfield Catholic, Strafford, Forsyth, Fair Grove, Buffalo, Hollister and Clever.

Cagle said the senior class is also focused on what it will leave behind.

“These seniors are going to give their best effort to leave the program in a better place,” Cagle said.

For the Wolves, that effort begins Friday night when they take the field at Parkview to open the 2026 season.

For the Reeds Spring Wolves football schedule and school calendar, visit the Reeds Spring Schools website. Team updates can also be found on the Reeds Spring Wolves Football Facebook page.